The Science of Birds
Ivan Phillipsen
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About This Podcast
The Science of Birds is a lighthearted exploration of bird biology. It's a fun resource for any birder or naturalist who wants to learn more about ornithology. Impress your birding friends at cocktail parties with all of your new bird knowledge! Hosted by Ivan Phillipsen, a professional birding guide and passionate naturalist with a PhD in Zoology.
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Recent Episodes
Random Bird Thursday: An Alien-Eyed Mountaineer That Sounds Like a Jet
In each Random Bird Thursday (RBT) episode, the goal is to highlight a bird species that probably isn't going to get featured in a full-length podcast episode. These are birds we might overlook, even…
Hawks, Eagles, and Kites
👕 Bird Merch — Get yourself some bird shirts!~~~This is Episode 134. Ivan takes on one of the most iconic bird families in the avian world: Accipitridae—the hawks, eagles, kites, buzzards, harriers,…
From the Field: Birding Romania
👕 Bird Merch — Get yourself some bird shirts!~~~In this From the Field episode Ivan takes listeners along on a two-week scouting trip to Romania where he explored the country's remarkable natural…
Random Bird Thursday: A Crepuscular Species That Is Not Actually Magical
In each Random Bird Thursday (RBT) episode, the goal is to highlight a bird species that probably isn't going to get featured in a full-length podcast episode. These are birds we might overlook, even…
Rivers & Streams as Bird Habitat
👕 Bird Merch — Get yourself some bird shirts!~~~In Episode 132, Ivan Phillipsen explores the "circulatory system of the land"—the world of rivers and streams. These flowing-water environments, serve…
Random Bird Thursday: A Trans-Andean Ant-Follower with a Complex Social Life
In each Random Bird Thursday (RBT) episode, the goal is to highlight a bird species that probably isn't going to get featured in a full-length podcast episode. These are birds we might overlook, even…
The Northern Flicker
👕 Bird Merch — Get yourself some bird shirts!~~~In Episode 131 of The Science of Birds, host Ivan Phillipsen takes a deep dive into one of North America's most familiar woodpeckers: the Northern…
Random Bird Thursday: A Colorful, Dumpy Bird That Chills With Chimps
In each Random Bird Thursday (RBT) episode, the goal is to highlight a bird species that probably isn't going to get featured in a full-length podcast episode. These are birds we might overlook, even…
Vagrancy: Why Some Birds End Up Far From Home
👕 Bird Merch — Get yourself some bird shirts!~~~In this episode—which is number 130—Ivan Phillipsen explores the fascinating phenomenon of vagrancy... those surprising moments when birds appear far…
Random Bird Thursday: A Large Fat-eater from Patagonia
In each Random Bird Thursday (RBT) episode, the goal is to highlight a bird species that probably isn't going to get featured in a full-length podcast episode. These are birds we might overlook, even…
Cuckoos
👕 Bird Merch — Get yourself some bird shirts!~~~In this episode, host Ivan Phillipsen dives into the diverse and sometimes mysterious world of the avian family Cuculidae. While the family is famous…
Random Bird Thursday: An Antisocial Bottom-Feeder from the Antipodes
In each Random Bird Thursday (RBT) episode, the goal is to highlight a bird species that probably isn't going to get featured in a full-length podcast episode. These are birds we might overlook, even…
Avian Navigation: How Birds Find Their Way
👕 Bird Merch — Get yourself some bird shirts!~~~This is Episode 128. How does a bird travel thousands of miles across the globe only to return to the exact same backyard or nest site year after…
Random Bird Thursday: A Fire-Loving Songbird Adorned with Black Oil Drops
In each Random Bird Thursday (RBT) episode, the goal is to highlight a bird species that probably isn't going to get featured in a full-length podcast episode. These are birds we might overlook, even…
What We Learned About Birds in 2025
👕 Bird Merch — Get yourself some bird shirts!~~~Episode 127 of The Science of Birds is Ivan Phillipsen’s annual review of fascinating ornithology stories from 2025. Learn about a handful of standout…
Random Bird Thursday: A Worm-slurping Mud-runner From Siberia
In each Random Bird Thursday (RBT) episode, the goal is to highlight a bird species that probably isn't going to get featured in a full-length podcast episode. These are birds we might overlook, even…
Herring Gulls
👕 Bird Merch — Get yourself some bird shirts!~~~In this episode—which is number 126—Ivan Phillipsen heads to the seashore to explore the iconic Herring Gulls whose calls define the soundscape of…
Random Bird Thursday: A Species with an Executioner’s Axe for a Face
In each Random Bird Thursday (RBT) episode, the goal is to highlight a bird species that probably isn't going to get featured in a full-length podcast episode. These are birds we might overlook, even…
How Birds Breathe: The Avian Respiratory System
👕 Bird Merch — Get yourself some bird shirts!~~~This is Episode 125. Host Ivan Phillipsen takes listeners inside the amazing respiratory system of birds. He starts by grounding the topic in familiar…
Random Bird Thursday: A Sparrow-sized Drummer from the Neotropics
In each Random Bird Thursday (RBT) episode, the goal is to highlight a bird species that probably isn't going to get featured in a full-length podcast episode. These are birds we might overlook, even…
Frequently Asked Questions
The Science of Birds has published 149 episodes since September 2020, covering topics in Life Sciences, Nature.
The Science of Birds is currently highly active with new episodes every 2 weeks. Average episode length is 42m.
Sign up on Grep.FM to access contact details for The Science of Birds, including email and social media links.
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